Rabbi’s Reflections – Thursday, September 12, 2024
Shalom *|FNAME|*,
Psalms
Psalm 18:4(3) – Part 10
Psalm 18:4 I called upon Adonai, worthy of praise, and I was rescued from my enemies.
Although David is writing in the first person here, this is the story of the Jewish people. We call upon God (in times of trouble) and He rescues us from our enemies. At the same time, it is our story as individuals as well. Each of us must see ourselves as personally redeemed.
2Corinthians 2:14 But thanks be to God, who in Messiah always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us reveals everywhere the aroma of the knowledge of Himself.
Rabbi Trail: It is interesting to see the use of the word “aroma” to describe how the Lord leads us in victory. For those of us who walk with the Lord, the smell of battle is on us. The following Scriptures (reprinted below) make a statement. To those who know the Lord, we smell sweet and to those who are perishing, we smell like death.
2Corinthinans 2:15 For we are the aroma of Messiah to God, among those who are being saved and those who are perishing— 16 to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. Who is competent for these things?
End RT.
I would also like to mention this… although the entire verse translation is written in the past tense, the entire Hebrew verse is written in the future tense.
Rabbi Trail: Also worthy of mention is that God does not function as we do. We have time limitations, but God does not. What to God is not completed, we think of as future, and conversely, what is completed unto God, we think of as past. God is telling us here that we will call upon Him (because our calling upon Him is not completed) and He will continue to rescue us from our enemies (because we are not yet fully rescued). End RT.
The invitation remains… Psalm 50:15 “Call upon Me in the day of trouble. When I rescue you, you will honor Me.” When we call upon God, we are putting Him on the throne, trusting in Him. This is His promise… Deuteronomy 31:8 “Adonai—He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you. Do not fear or be discouraged.” While originally spoken by Moses to Joshua, these same (or similar) words appear throughout the Scriptures. (Genesis 28:15, Joshua 1:5 and 9, Isaiah 41:10, Psalm 94:14, 1 Chronicles 28:20, and Hebrews 13:5, just to name a few.)
One last note: the last Hebrew word of the verse is a form of Yeshua’s name. It is translated as “rescued,” but could also be translated as “saved,” which we are. This redemption happens on many levels, but ultimately, we are saved unto the lord as a sweet aroma of incense, preserved to be with the Lord spiritually for all eternity.
1Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself shall come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the blast of God’s shofar, and the dead in Messiah shall rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left behind, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air—and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Message delivered: In times of trouble, we will keep God on the throne and call upon Him for deliverance.
Message received: Covenant with God to call upon Him as our first choice, not our last resort.
Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
9 Elul Thursday 12-Sep-24
Deuteronomy 23:24[25]-24:4 Joel 2[2-3] 2 Chronicles 3-4 John 18 Hebrews 9:1-14